US11778397B2 - Device for providing an audio signal - Google Patents

Device for providing an audio signal Download PDF

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US11778397B2
US11778397B2 US17/416,154 US201917416154A US11778397B2 US 11778397 B2 US11778397 B2 US 11778397B2 US 201917416154 A US201917416154 A US 201917416154A US 11778397 B2 US11778397 B2 US 11778397B2
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tinnitus
frequency
audio signal
user
loudness
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US20220078566A1 (en
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Oliver Haefeli
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MY TINNITUS HAS GONE AG
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MY TINNITUS HAS GONE AG
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Electric hearing aids
    • H04R25/75—Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/12—Audiometering
    • A61B5/128—Audiometering evaluating tinnitus

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device for providing an audio signal for suppressing or decreasing a n user's tinnitus, and to a method for generating such audio signal or obtaining it by modifying a received audio signal.
  • Tinnitus is a perception of sound by a person when no external sound is present. It may have different frequency characteristics, such as a ringing, a clicking, a hiss or a roaring, and it may be perceived in one or both ears, or in the person in general. Tinnitus is a widespread symptom affecting more than 10% of people. Usually it relates to subjective tinnitus which, in contrast to objective tinnitus, cannot be detected by people other than the person affected, but is a subjective perception of this person. Tinnitus may be caused by hearing loss, in particular a noise-induced hearing loss, e.g. through cochlear damage. However, tinnitus has also been associated with various neurologic, metabolic or psychiatric disorders.
  • tinnitus There is currently no known cure for tinnitus. Despite increased research focused on tinnitus and various propositions for related therapies, tinnitus is still not fully understood and therapies mostly relate to fighting symptoms rather than cause. Such therapies include cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, acupuncture and various sound therapies. Sound therapies include applying hearing aids, or masking the tinnitus by means of a masker, i.e. drowning the perceived sound of tinnitus in other sounds, such that the person's attention is drawn to the other sounds in order to achieve a habituation. In another therapy, a noiser creates noise, e.g.
  • tinnitus retraining therapy TRT
  • further sounds may be used in tinnitus therapy, such as music, common environmental sounds, speech, sound of rushing water, etc.
  • the sounds may be filtered as e.g. in notched music therapy, wherein a frequency range around the tinnitus is filtered out.
  • CR Coordinated Reset
  • ANM Adaptive Neuromodulation
  • a common feature of the described sound therapies is the massive amount of time that the affected person needs to be exposed to the sound to achieve any significant effect in decreasing the tinnitus, if at all, or at least in enhancing a quality of living with the so tinnitus. Such amount of time is typically in the range of several hours per day over a period of at least a year. It follows that such therapies severely interfere with the person's every-day life. Hence it is an object of the present invention to provide a device and a method for effectively decreasing or suppressing a user's tinnitus.
  • the general object to provide a device for effectively decreasing or suppressing a user's tinnitus is solved by the device according to claim 1 .
  • the device for providing an audio signal for suppressing or decreasing a user's tinnitus comprises an identification unit for supporting a determination of at least one m parameter regarding the user's tinnitus; an adaptation unit configured to modify a received audio signal according to the at least one parameter, thereby obtaining the audio signal, or to generate the audio signal according to the at least one parameter; and an audio output unit configured to play the audio signal to the user.
  • a defined frequency spectrum, also referred to as frequency characteristic or frequency range, that is applied in/to the audio signal is dependent on a tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • the tinnitus suppression frequency is defined as the frequency for which tinnitus suppression or deletion occurs. This means that a sound played to the user, which sound is at the tinnitus suppression frequency or obeys to the defined frequency spectrum as detailed later, will lead to a suppression or deletion of the user's tinnitus for a time duration called the interval of tinnitus suppression. It has been found that the tinnitus suppression frequency in many users coincides with the tinnitus frequency within a tolerance of +/ ⁇ 10%, i.e. a dominant frequency perceived by the user in the tinnitus. Hence the tinnitus frequency may be used as a proxy for the tinnitus suppression frequency. Thus, the tinnitus suppression frequency advantageously is the tinnitus frequency throughout the following description.
  • the audio signal has a defined frequency spectrum comprising a peak of intensity with a peak frequency being one or more of: at the tinnitus suppression frequency, within a frequency range between one fourth of an octave below and one fourth of an octave above the tinnitus suppression frequency, at a frequency one or more octaves below and/or above the tinnitus suppression frequency, and within a frequency range between one fourth of an octave below and one fourth of an octave above the frequency one or more octaves below and/or above the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • “Decreasing” shall mean that a loudness of the tinnitus is reduced, but still above a hearing threshold of the user, i.e. the tinnitus is still perceived but less loud. “Suppressing” shall mean that the loudness of the tinnitus is reduced to zero or at least below the hearing threshold of the user, i.e. the tinnitus is no longer perceived.
  • the tinnitus After playing a finite audio signal with the described frequency spectrum, the tinnitus is decreased or suppressed for an interval of tinnitus suppression, also called a tinnitus deletion time, e.g. 5 s, 10 s, 30 s, 60 s, 2 min, 3 min, 10 min, an hour or even several hours for different users. Only after the interval of tinnitus deletion, the tinnitus recovers, and its loudness increases beyond the hearing threshold of the user until finally reaching again its original loudness.
  • a huge advantage of using the device and playing the audio signal with the defined frequency spectrum to the user is that such treatment is simple, does not require much effort, and achieves the effect of suppressing the tinnitus very fast, i.e.
  • such use of the device may help to re-train neurons associated with tinnitus in the user's brain, and dismantle them on an organic level, such that the cause of tinnitus is remedied.
  • an exact form of the frequency spectrum of the audio signal is irrelevant to the effect of decreasing or suppressing the tinnitus as long as the above criteria for the peak frequency are met.
  • a sinus sound having intensity in only one frequency does the job, but also a narrow-band signal within half of an octave around the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • Such narrow-band signal preferably has a bandwidth equal to or less than half of an octave, or preferably equal to or less than a quarter of an octave, or preferably equal to or less than an eighth of an octave, or preferably equal to or less than 100 Hz.
  • the narrow-band signal has a bandwidth less than half of the bandwidth around the tinnitus suppression frequency provided for the locating the narrow-band signal, and preferably less than a quarter of such bandwidth, and preferably less than an eighth of such bandwidth.
  • an audio signal having a peak frequency which is shifted one or more octaves compared to the tinnitus suppression frequency decreases or suppresses the tinnitus for some users.
  • a narrow-band signal within half of an octave around the frequency shifted by the one or more octaves compared to the tinnitus suppression frequency may serve the purpose, too.
  • the narrow-band signal preferably has a bandwidth equal to or less than half, or equal to or less than a quarter, or equal to or less than an eighth of an octave, or preferably equal to or less than 100 Hz within the given interval.
  • the narrow-band signal has a bandwidth less than half of the bandwidth around the frequency shifted by one or more octaves compared to the tinnitus suppression frequency, and preferably less than a quarter of such bandwidth, and preferably less than an eighth of such bandwidth.
  • Even an audio signal with significant intensity in other frequencies has been observed to have the tinnitus decreasing or suppressing effect, provided that the frequency spectrum of the audio signal fulfills the above criteria.
  • the audio signal may be any sound, such as e.g. music, speech or environmental noise, whose frequency spectrum has been adapted to the defined frequency spectrum, e.g. by filtering.
  • audio signals for tinnitus suppression preferably comprise signals that are continuous but may also comprise signals that are intermittent or alternating with time. “Intermittent” or “alternating” shall mean that any property of the audio signal is switched on and off, or changed repeatedly with time, such as a loudness or a frequency spectrum of the audio signal.
  • An effective time of tinnitus suppression i.e. the duration for which the user does not perceive the tinnitus, is theoretically infinite, if an interval of intermittency or alternation is shorter than or equal to the interval of tinnitus suppression.
  • the device comprises an identification unit, an adaptation unit as well as an audio output unit, it may be regarded as an all-in-one solution for providing an audio signal for suppressing or decreasing a user's tinnitus.
  • the identification unit determining at least one parameter regarding his/her tinnitus. Examples for the at least one parameter are:
  • the audio signal is generated, e.g. synthetically from a sound sample, or modified from the received audio signal according to the at least one parameter.
  • This second step is preferably done automatically after the first step on the basis of the at least one parameter determined in the first step. Or in other words, modifying or generating the audio signal does not require any further user inputs, such as further parameter values, or any further user selections, such as a track selection.
  • an adaptation unit is provided and is configured to automatically convert the at least one determined user specific parameter relating to the user's tinnitus into a parameter of the audio signal. Accordingly, the determined one or more parameters are reflected in the audio signal which is performed by the adaptation unit.
  • a or each determined parameter is converted in one of a frequency parameter of the audio signal, an amplitude parameter of the audio signal, or a timing parameter in the audio signal.
  • a basic appearance of the audio signal is predefined: E.g. a time characteristic of the audio signal is predefined in that it shall be an intermittent audio signal.
  • the frequency characteristic of the audio signal shall be predefined in that only the user specific tinnitus suppression frequency shall be used in form of a sinus signal.
  • an amplitude characteristic of the audio signal shall be predefined in that only peaks of a minimum required loudness for suppressing or decreasing the user's tinnitus or below the users hearing threshold shall be used.
  • the user specific user tinnitus suppression frequency is determined first by support of the device.
  • pulses of such tinnitus suppression frequency are played to the user at varying loudness by means of the device in order to identify the minimum required loudness of the audio signal for suppressing or decreasing the user's tinnitus.
  • pulses at or above the minimum required loudness of the audio signal for suppressing or decreasing the user's tinnitus are played to the user at varying intervals in order to determine the interval of tinnitus suppression.
  • the basic appearance/general layout provided for the audio signal is adjusted, i.e. parameters of the audio signal are automatically set based on the measured user specific parameters.
  • the frequency of the peaks in the audio signal is set to the tinnitus suppression frequency
  • the intervals between the peaks in the audio signal are set to or less than the determined user specific interval of tinnitus suppression.
  • the amplitude of the peaks are set to or at most+10% of the determined minimum required loudness of the audio signal for suppressing or decreasing the user's tinnitus.
  • an audio signal predefined in its characteristics, and preferably predefined in its frequency characteristic, its timing characteristic, and its amplitude characteristic, is finalized in its parameters by means of the one or more determined user specific tinnitus related parameters.
  • the audio signal has a frequency characteristic which is dependent on the user specific tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • the device may use an iterative approach in sequentially offering sounds with a varying parameter to the user and requesting for feedback.
  • the required loudness for the audio signal be it of peaks of an intermittent signal or the loudness of a continuous signal
  • test sounds with varying loudness may n be played to the user for identifying the loudness at which a tinnitus suppression just can be achieved.
  • the adaptation unit is configured to modify the received audio signal according to the defined frequency spectrum and based on the at least one parameter, or is configured to modify the received audio signal according to the defined frequency spectrum based on the at least one parameter.
  • the adaptation unit is configured to generate the audio signal according to the defined frequency spectrum and based on the at least one parameter, or is configured to generate the audio signal according to the defined frequency spectrum based on the at least one parameter.
  • the at least one parameter may vary over time for the user.
  • the identification may support a re-determination of the at least one parameter regarding the user's tinnitus, e.g. within a regular time interval or when the user feels that the value of the at least one parameter does not fit his/her perception any longer.
  • Such re-determined at least one parameter will then again be used as new basis for the modification or generation of the audio signal.
  • the audio signal for suppressing or decreasing a user's tinnitus may take various forms. Numerous combinations of the different features are possible to achieve the tinnitus decreasing or suppressing effect. All these combinations of the different features are understood to be comprised in the following disclosure of embodiments.
  • the identification unit is configured to support a determination of the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • the identification unit is advantageously configured to play sounds of different frequencies to the user, to prompt an input of the user in response to the sounds of different frequencies, and to determine the tinnitus suppression frequency by evaluating the input.
  • the determination may be done by presenting a sequence of sounds with continuously or stepwise rising or falling frequency to the user, and letting the user identify the frequency which suppresses or deletes the tinnitus, in particular which suppresses or deletes the tinnitus most effectively, e.g. to the lowest tinnitus loudness or for the longest interval of tinnitus suppression.
  • the tinnitus frequency may be taken as a proxy for the tinnitus suppression frequency as described above.
  • the determination may be done by presenting a sequence of sounds with continuously rising or falling frequency to the user, and letting the user identify the frequency closest to the perceived tinnitus.
  • the determination may be achieved by letting the user compare the tinnitus with one or two sounds of certain frequencies, and adapting the certain frequencies to the user's response.
  • the identification unit is configured to support a determination of the perceived loudness of the tinnitus by playing sounds of different loudness to the user, prompting an input of the user in response to the sounds, and by determining the perceived loudness of the tinnitus by evaluating the input. This may be achieved in an analogous manner as the determination of the tinnitus frequency above.
  • the at least one parameter comprises a minimum required loudness of the audio signal for suppressing or decreasing the user's tinnitus.
  • the identification unit is configured to support a determination of the minimum required loudness. This may be done in the following way:
  • the identification unit is configured to play sounds of different loudness to the user, to prompt an input of the user dependent on the tinnitus being suppressed or decreased, and to determine the minimum required loudness by evaluating the input.
  • the audio signal then played to the user has a loudness equal to the minimum required loudness within a tolerance of 10%.
  • tolerance in particular relates to a value of the loudness measured or expressed in dB. Thus the user is not disturbed by the audio signal more than necessary.
  • the identification unit is configured to support a regular re-determination of the minimum required loudness, in particular every week or month.
  • the value of the minimum required loudness may be adapted to changed conditions and perceptions of the user over time.
  • the adaptation unit is then configured to adapt the audio signal to the re-determined minimum required loudness.
  • the adaptation unit may be configured to gradually lower the loudness of the audio signal over time starting from the minimum required loudness. Such gradual lowering of the loudness takes into account an empirical evolution of the minimum required loudness observed in users, which shows a decrease in minimum required loudness over time. However, at some point, the loudness of the played audio signal may be lower than the minimum required loudness for achieving tinnitus suppression in the user.
  • the identification unit is advantageously configured to accept a user input regarding a re-appearance of the tinnitus.
  • the adaptation unit may be configured to increase or decrease the loudness of the audio signal by a defined amount, which in particular is in a range between 1 and 5 dB, e.g. 2 dB, in response to the user input.
  • the identification unit is configured to support a determination of the hearing threshold by playing sounds of different loudness to the user, prompting an input of the user in response to the sounds, and by determining the hearing threshold by evaluating the input.
  • the hearing threshold may be determined in dependence on the frequency, i.e. an audiogram of the user is determined.
  • the identification unit is configured to support a determination of the interval of tinnitus suppression by playing a sound with the defined frequency spectrum to the user, prompting an input of the user in response to the sound, and by determining the interval of tinnitus suppression by evaluating the input. This may be achieved by prompting the user to press a button when he starts to perceive the tinnitus again after the sound has been played.
  • One or more of parameters as the determined tinnitus suppression frequency, tinnitus loudness, hearing threshold, and interval of tinnitus suppression are preferably used to adapt the audio signal played to the user.
  • the audio signal may be optimally fitted to the user.
  • the parameters may be determined by the user anew, and the audio signal may be adapted to the new parameters for an optimal effect of tinnitus suppression.
  • the device comprises the adaptation unit configured to generate the audio signal according to the defined frequency range.
  • the adaptation unit generates a sinus signal on the tinnitus suppression frequency, or a narrow-band signal having the defined frequency spectrum with respect to the determined tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • the audio output unit generates the audio signal receiving a frequency characteristic that has been determined by the adaptation unit based on the tinnitus suppression frequency from the identification unit.
  • the adaptation unit may be configured to modify a frequency spectrum of a received audio signal according to the defined frequency range.
  • the received audio signal may comprise any sound or noise, in particular one or more of music, speech, environmental sounds, e.g. recorded real-time in the surrounding of the user, white noise, pink noise, brown noise, and a tinnitus habituation sound.
  • the adaptation unit may comprise a filter configured to amplify frequencies within the defined frequency spectrum, and/or to attenuate frequencies outside the defined frequency spectrum.
  • the adaptation or attenuation of frequencies by the adaptation unit is preferably at least 25%, in particular more than 50%.
  • the device may comprise a microphone configured to record the received audio signal, wherein the received audio signal is provided to the adaptation unit.
  • the received audio signal may be provided to the adaptation unit from a database, in particular wherein the database is stored in a memory of the device.
  • the tinnitus habituation sound mentioned above is preferably adapted to draw a person's attention to itself and away from the tinnitus, i.e. the person may be distracted from the tinnitus, and a habituation to the tinnitus may be achieved.
  • the adaptation unit is configured to decrease the loudness of the audio signal over time continuously or stepwise. This means the user will hear continuous sounds, e.g. music, or intermittent sounds that become quieter over time, e.g. decreasing from 80 dB to 40 dB as a default. At some point in time, the acoustic energy within the audio signal, in particular in the defined frequency spectrum, will not suffice in order to decrease or suppress the tinnitus. At that time a user interaction may be useful.
  • the identification unit is configured to accept a user input, e.g. a press on a button, when the user input starts to perceive again the tinnitus.
  • the identification unit may be configured to re-determine the at least one parameter, in particular the loudness of the audio signal, dependent on the user input.
  • a reasonable choice is e.g. to set the loudness of the audio signal just above or e.g. 10 dB above its level when the user started to perceive the tinnitus again.
  • the adaptation unit may be configured to increase the interval of sounds with the defined frequency spectrum over time continuously or stepwise, e.g. as a default from an interval of 5 s or 10 s up to 60 s or 10 min.
  • the identification unit is configured to re-determine the sound interval and to preferably set it just below the so re-determined interval of tinnitus suppression.
  • the defined frequency spectrum of the audio signal preferably comprises a narrow-bandwidth characteristic within half of an octave around the tinnitus suppression frequency and/or around the frequency one octave below the tinnitus suppression frequency. Good success of complete tinnitus suppression have been achieved by such audio signal.
  • the defined frequency spectrum may comprise a narrow-bandwidth characteristic within one fourth, or even one eighth, of an octave around the tinnitus suppression frequency and/or around the frequency one octave below the tinnitus suppression frequency. Also such forms of the frequency spectrum suffice to achieve total tinnitus suppression in most users.
  • the narrow-band signal preferably has a bandwidth equal to or less than half of an octave, or preferably equal to or less than a quarter of an octave, or preferably equal to or less than an eighth of an octave.
  • the adaptation unit is further configured to split an acoustic energy in the defined frequency spectrum, e.g. defined by a pulse of defined length and amplitude as required to suppress the user's tinnitus, to different frequencies in the defined frequency spectrum, in particular to the frequency range around the frequency one or more octaves below or above the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • a acoustic energy in the defined frequency spectrum e.g. defined by a pulse of defined length and amplitude as required to suppress the user's tinnitus
  • the adaptation unit is further configured to split an acoustic energy in the defined frequency spectrum, e.g. defined by a pulse of defined length and amplitude as required to suppress the user's tinnitus, to different frequencies in the defined frequency spectrum, in particular to the frequency range around the frequency one or more octaves below or above the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • Such feature is particularly useful if the user suffers from hearing loss, i.e.
  • the adaptation unit is configured to perform the split of the acoustic energy dependent on the hearing threshold of the user.
  • the identification unit is configured to support a determination of the hearing threshold of the user, meaning that also the identification of the frequencies particularly affected by hearing loss is integrated in the device.
  • the split of the acoustic energy may be performed according to a user's preferences, i.e. in order to generate a more agreeable user experience.
  • the defined frequency spectrum may correspond to a frequency spectrum of tinnitus, in particular of the user's tinnitus. This would lead to an optimal suppression of tinnitus. However, it has the disadvantage that the user has to listen to a tinnitus-like sound again, if it is played above the hearing threshold.
  • the audio signal may be a sinus signal, or be derived from a sinus signal. This comprises signals containing several frequency components in the defined frequency spectrum.
  • the defined frequency spectrum may have zero intensity for frequencies other than the peak frequency, or outside the defined frequency spectrum.
  • the loudness of the audio signal it is preferable that the loudness is below a perceived loudness of the tinnitus. In this way, the user is at least partly relieved from the pain of perceiving a sound at the tinnitus suppression frequency, in particular at the tinnitus frequency. More into that direction, the audio signal advantageously has a loudness equal to or below a hearing threshold of the user. Thus the user does neither perceive the audio signal on the tinnitus suppression frequency, in particular on the tinnitus frequency, nor the tinnitus itself.
  • the audio signal is alternating or intermittent in time.
  • the audio signal may alternate in loudness between a first loudness and a second loudness.
  • the first loudness is above the hearing threshold of the user, and/or the second loudness is equal to or below the hearing threshold of the user.
  • a quality of a change-over between first loudness and second loudness has been observed to be irrelevant for the effect of tinnitus suppression.
  • the alternating or intermitting audio signal may comprise a steep slope between the first loudness and the second loudness.
  • a duration of the slope is preferably below 0.5 s or 0.1 s, and in particular the slope has the form of a step function.
  • Such quality of change-over is well suited for short intermittent audio pulses.
  • the alternating or intermitting audio signal may comprise a shallow slope between the first loudness and the second loudness, in particular wherein a duration of the slope is above 0.5 s or 1 s.
  • Such longer change-over is particularly suitable for modifying an audio signal received from the environment or for adapting a piece of music.
  • the interval of alternation or intermittency of the audio signal has a random duration.
  • the interval of alternation or intermittency of the audio signal is equal to or shorter than an interval of tinnitus suppression.
  • the interval of alternation or intermittency are 10 s, 30 s or 60 s, in particular depending on the user's determined interval of tinnitus suppression.
  • the effective time of perceived tinnitus suppression for the user is theoretically infinite.
  • the interval of alternation or intermittency is synchronized with, i.e. equal to, the interval of tinnitus suppression, such that the user is not subjected to more audio pulses than necessary.
  • the audio output unit is configured to play the audio signal to an ipsilateral ear in relation to the tinnitus, i.e. the same ear on which the user perceives the tinnitus, in particular exclusively to the ipsilateral ear.
  • the audio output unit may further be configured to play a second audio signal with a second frequency spectrum to the user simultaneously with the sound, wherein the second frequency spectrum comprises a broader frequency range than the defined frequency spectrum.
  • the second audio signal may comprise one or more of music, speech and environmental sounds. This means that the user may listen to such second audio signal, e.g. with a regular frequency spectrum, simultaneously which makes the use of the device more agreeable.
  • a loudness of the second audio signal is below the loudness of the audio signal.
  • the loudness of the second audio signal is preferably below the first loudness, and/or above the second loudness.
  • the second audio signal may alternatively or additionally comprise any sound, in particular one of a noise, e.g. white noise, pink noise, and brown noise, and a tinnitus habituation sound.
  • a tinnitus habituation sound is preferably adapted to draw a person's attention to itself and away from the tinnitus, i.e. the person may be distracted from the tinnitus, and a habituation to the tinnitus may be achieved.
  • the audio signal may be played continuously or alternating.
  • the audio output unit comprises a speaker or headphone configured to generate acoustic waves corresponding to the audio signal.
  • the audio output unit may comprise an implant configured to generate acoustic waves corresponding to the audio signal directly in the user's hearing.
  • the audio output unit may comprise a neuronal n stimulator configured to generate a sensation of the audio signal in the user's brain. In the latter case actual acoustic waves may even not be necessary for suppressing the tinnitus.
  • the device may be a mobile device, such as an MP3 player, or a mobile phone. Such devices are part of the every-day life of the user, such that playing the audio signal may be integrated into the user's life in an agreeable way.
  • the device may be a hearing aid. A user with hearing loss will have and use a hearing aid anyway.
  • the hearing aid is configured to play the audio signal in addition to its regular function of rectifying hearing loss. This means that playing the audio signal for decreasing or suppressing the tinnitus goes beyond the normal function of a hearing aid.
  • the adaptation unit may be configured to generate or modify the audio signal according to the defined frequency range on top of a regular processing of the received audio signal for rectifying hearing loss.
  • the device is a hearing aid or any other device performing functions of a hearing aid, in particular comprising a microphone for recording sounds in surroundings of the user.
  • the received audio signal i.e. the audio signal that is modified based on the at least one parameter by the adaptation unit, advantageously corresponds to an amplification of sounds in the surroundings of the user, which are in particular recorded by the microphone.
  • the adaptation unit is configured to enrich the audio signal with acoustic energy in the defined frequency spectrum if an acoustic energy in the defined frequency spectrum in the received audio signal is below a threshold, in particular below the hearing threshold of the user. In this way, suppression of the tinnitus may be achieved even if the surrounding sounds do not contain acoustic energy in the defined frequency spectrum.
  • the adaptation unit is configured to limit an output loudness, i.e. a total output loudness including the audio signal, to a level below a threshold.
  • the threshold in particular is a feedback threshold if the device is a hearing aid or an earphone comprising a microphone. In this way, a feedback loop, in particular wherein a sound played by the device is fed back into the microphone and amplified again, leading to an annoying beep sound is avoided.
  • the adaptation unit is further configured to limit a loudness of the audio signal, in particular to a non-hurtful level of loudness, i.e. 105 dB within a tolerance of +/ ⁇ 10%.
  • the adaptation unit is configured to limit an acoustic energy in the defined frequency spectrum, in particular to the non-hurtful level of acoustic energy.
  • limiting the loudness of the acoustic energy in the audio signal is performed in order to avoid undesired acoustic feedback. This may be necessary for hardware-reasons, e.g. in a hearing aid or similar devices such as a mobile phone or headphones which amplify surrounding sounds. If the loudness or the n acoustic energy is not limited, the audio signal played by the hearing aid may be picked up again by the in-built microphone and amplified again, which may lead to a large, disturbing and in particular hurtful signal.
  • the loudness or acoustic energy of the audio signal is not only limited, i.e. decreased for certain frequencies, but also increased for other frequencies, in particular in response to the limiting.
  • the split of acoustic energy to the frequency range around the frequency one or more octaves below or above the tinnitus suppression frequency as described before may be useful.
  • the adaptation unit is configured to split at least a part of the acoustic energy which is neglected due to the limiting to the frequency range around the frequency one or more octaves below or above the tinnitus suppression frequency. This is useful, in particular in the case of a hearing aid, because the desired effect of tinnitus suppression is still achieved while the hurtful consequences of too much acoustic energy in a n certain frequency range are avoided.
  • the following embodiment may be useful: If the tinnitus suppression frequency exceeds the hearing aid limit frequency, the frequency characteristic of the audio signal is absent a contribution at the tinnitus suppression frequency but instead at frequencies of the defined frequency spectrum which are one or more octaves lower than the tinnitus suppression frequency, and hence, in particular at frequencies inside the range of frequencies supported by the hardware.
  • the suppression sound is advantageously played at the tinnitus suppression frequency, or at one or several octaves above the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • the device i.e. the adaptation unit automatically compares an identified tinnitus suppression frequency with the limit frequency of the hearing aid e.g. stored in the device.
  • octave-shifting of the acoustic energy in the suppression sound is useful, in case a user may have normal hearing capabilities up to a limit frequency but hearing loss and tinnitus above the limit frequency. In this case, playing a sound at the tinnitus suppression frequency is ineffective in terms of tinnitus suppression. Rather, it is preferred in this case to apply peaks in the audio signal at one or more octaves lower than the tinnitus suppression frequency, i.e. below the limit frequency. In this way, tinnitus suppression or deletion can still be achieved, even under severe hearing loss.
  • the device i.e. the adaptation unit automatically compares an identified tinnitus suppression frequency with the limit frequency either stored in the device of identified by way of measurement.
  • the device and specifically the adaptation unit is configured to apply the filter characteristic used for tinnitus suppression out of environmental sound.
  • an artificial audio signal according to the requirements may be switched on at least for such period in time.
  • the artificial audio signal may permanently be applied in addition to the application of the filter characteristic to environmental sound. In this case it is preferred, to either limit, i.e. clip the acoustic energy in the subject frequencies in case of environmental sound of high loudness, or to split the acoustic energy to other desired frequencies in the characteristic, e.g. an octave above or below the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • the identification unit may support the determination of the following parameters regarding the user's tinnitus in different steps:
  • the sounds played to the user for determining subsequent parameters 2 to 4 are advantageously adapted to the earlier determined parameters 1 to 3.
  • a second aspect of the current invention relates to a method for generating an audio signal or modifying a received audio signal to obtain the audio signal on an electronic device according to claim 46 .
  • the audio signal again, preferably has a defined frequency spectrum comprising a peak of intensity with a peak frequency being one or more of: at a tinnitus suppression frequency, within a frequency range between one fourth of an octave below and one fourth of an octave above the tinnitus suppression frequency, at a frequency one or more octaves below or above the tinnitus suppression frequency, and within a frequency range between one fourth of an octave below and one fourth of an octave above the frequency one or more octaves below or above the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • the method preferably comprises the steps of supporting a determination of at least one parameter regarding a user's tinnitus, modifying the received audio signal according to the at least one parameter, thereby obtaining the audio signal, or generating the audio signal according to the at least one parameter, and playing the audio signal to a user.
  • the method is performed on a device as discussed above, and the audio signal also preferably comprises the properties discussed above.
  • the method advantageously comprises the step of identifying one or more of the user's tinnitus suppression frequency, tinnitus loudness, interval of tinnitus suppression, and hearing threshold, in particular by using the device as discussed above.
  • a further aspect of the current invention relates to a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a processor of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to carry out the steps of the above method.
  • the computer program is stored on a computer-readable data carrier.
  • a device for providing an audio signal for suppressing or decreasing a user's tinnitus comprises an audio output unit configured to play the audio signal to the user, wherein the audio signal has a is defined frequency spectrum comprising a peak of intensity with a peak frequency being one or more of: at a tinnitus suppression frequency; within a frequency range between one fourth of an octave below and one fourth of an octave above the tinnitus suppression frequency; at a frequency one or more octaves below or above the tinnitus suppression frequency; and within a frequency range between one fourth of an octave below and one fourth of an octave above the frequency one or more octaves below or above the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • the device further comprises an identification unit for supporting a determination of the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • the identification unit is configured to play sounds of different frequencies to the user, to prompt an input of the user in response to the sounds of different frequencies, and to determine the tinnitus suppression frequency by evaluating the input.
  • the device further comprises an adaptation unit configured to generate the audio signal according to the defined frequency range.
  • the device further comprises an adaptation unit configured to modify a frequency spectrum of a received audio signal according to the defined frequency range.
  • the adaptation unit comprises a filter configured to amplify frequencies within the defined frequency spectrum, and/or to attenuate frequencies outside the defined frequency spectrum.
  • an adaptation or attenuation of frequencies by the adaptation unit is at least 25%, in particular more than 50%.
  • the defined frequency spectrum comprises a narrow-bandwidth characteristic within half of an octave around the tinnitus suppression frequency and/or around the frequency one octave below the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • the defined frequency spectrum comprises a narrow-bandwidth characteristic within one fourth of an octave around the tinnitus suppression frequency and/or around the frequency one octave below the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • the defined frequency spectrum comprises a narrow-bandwidth characteristic within one eighth of an octave around the tinnitus suppression frequency and/or around the frequency one octave below the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • the defined frequency spectrum corresponds to a frequency spectrum of tinnitus, in particular of the user's tinnitus.
  • the audio signal is a sinus signal, or is derived from a sinus signal.
  • the defined frequency spectrum has zero intensity for frequencies other than the peak frequency.
  • the audio signal has a loudness below or above a perceived loudness of the tinnitus.
  • the identification unit is further configured to support a determination of the perceived loudness of the tinnitus by playing sounds of different loudness to the user, prompting an input of the user in response to the sounds, and by determining the perceived loudness of the tinnitus by evaluating the input.
  • the audio signal has a loudness equal to or below a hearing threshold of the user.
  • the identification unit is further configured to support a determination of the hearing threshold by playing sounds of different loudness to the user, prompting an input of the user in response to the sounds, and by determining the hearing threshold by evaluating the input.
  • the audio signal is continuous in time.
  • the audio signal is alternating or intermittent in time.
  • the audio signal alternates in loudness between a first loudness and a second loudness, in particular wherein the first loudness is above the hearing threshold of the user, and in particular wherein the second loudness is equal to or below the hearing threshold of the user.
  • the alternating or intermitting audio signal comprises a steep slope between the first loudness and the second loudness, in particular wherein a duration of the slope is below 0.5 s or is below 0.1 s, in particular the slope has the form of a step function.
  • the alternating or intermitting audio signal comprises a shallow slope between the first loudness and the second loudness, in particular wherein a duration of the slope is above 0.5 s or is below 1 s.
  • an interval of alternation or intermittency of the audio signal has a random duration.
  • an interval of alternation or intermittency of the audio signal is equal to or shorter than an interval of tinnitus suppression, in particular wherein the interval of alternation or intermittency is in the range of 5 s, 10 s, 20 s, 30 s, 60 s, 5 min, 10 min to 1 h.
  • the identification unit is further configured to support a determination of the interval of tinnitus suppression by playing a sound with the defined frequency spectrum to the user, prompting an input of the user in response to the sound, and by determining the interval of tinnitus suppression by evaluating the input.
  • the interval of alternation or intermittency is synchronized with the interval of tinnitus suppression.
  • the device further comprises a microphone configured to record the received audio signal, wherein the received audio signal is provided to the adaptation unit.
  • the adaptation unit is configured to receive the audio signal from a database, in particular wherein the database is stored in a memory of the device.
  • the received audio signal comprises one or more of music, speech, environmental sounds, white noise, pink noise, brown noise, and a tinnitus habituation sound.
  • the audio output unit is further configured to play the audio signal to an ipsilateral ear in relation to the tinnitus, in particular exclusively to the ipsilateral ear.
  • the audio output unit is further configured to play the audio signal to a contralateral ear in relation to the tinnitus, in particular exclusively to the contralateral ear.
  • the audio output unit is further configured to play a second audio signal with a second frequency spectrum to the user simultaneously with the sound, wherein the second frequency spectrum comprises a broader frequency range than the defined frequency spectrum.
  • the second audio signal comprises one or more of music, speech, environmental sounds, white noise, pink noise, brown noise, and a tinnitus habituation sound.
  • a loudness of the second audio signal is below the loudness of the audio signal.
  • a loudness of the second audio signal is below the first loudness, in particular wherein the loudness of the second audio signal is above the second loudness.
  • the audio output unit comprises a speaker or headphone configured to generate acoustic waves corresponding to the audio signal.
  • the device is an MP3 or other digital audio files player.
  • the device is a mobile phone.
  • the device is an earphone, e.g. having functionality to manually or automatically adapt a frequency content of the played audio signal.
  • the device is a hearing aid.
  • the hearing aid is configured to play the audio signal in addition to its regular function of rectifying hearing loss.
  • the adaptation unit is configured to generate or modify the audio signal according to the defined frequency range on top of a regular processing of the received audio signal for rectifying hearing loss.
  • the audio output unit comprises an implant configured to generate acoustic waves corresponding to the audio signal directly in the user's hearing.
  • the audio output unit comprises a neuronal stimulator configured to generate a sensation of the audio signal in the user's brain.
  • the audio signal has a defined frequency spectrum comprising a peak of intensity with a peak frequency being one or more of: at a tinnitus suppression frequency; within a frequency range between one fourth of an octave below and one fourth of an octave above the tinnitus suppression frequency; at a frequency one or more octaves below or above the tinnitus suppression frequency; and within a frequency range between one fourth of an octave below and one fourth of an octave above the frequency one or more octaves below or above the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • the method comprises the steps of automatically generating or obtaining the audio signal, and playing the audio signal to a user, in particular being performed on the device described above.
  • the method further comprises the step of identifying one or more of the user's tinnitus suppression frequency, tinnitus loudness, minimum required loudness, interval of tinnitus suppression and hearing threshold, in particular by using the device described above.
  • a computer program comprises instructions which, when the program is executed by a processor of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to carry out the steps of the method described above.
  • a computer-readable data carrier has stored thereon the computer program.
  • the described embodiments similarly pertain to the device, the method, the computer program, and the computer-readable data carrier. Synergetic effects may arise from different combinations of the embodiments although they might not be described in detail.
  • FIG. 1 a time diagram of an empiric finding of tinnitus deletion by a sound underlying a device and a method according to the following figures,
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 time diagrams with continuous and intermittent sound, respectively, according to embodiments of the present invention
  • FIGS. 4 to 8 time diagrams of particular embodiments with continuous sound
  • FIGS. 9 to 14 time diagrams of particular embodiments with intermittent sound
  • FIGS. 15 to 18 time diagrams with boosted music or boosted sounds according to embodiments of the present invention
  • FIG. 19 a time diagram of different transition characteristics of a sound played according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 20 to 24 time diagrams of an influence of an interval of sound intermittency or alternation on a degree of tinnitus suppression according to embodiments of the present invention
  • FIG. 25 a time diagram of an embodiment with continuous sound adapting to the minimum required loudness
  • FIGS. 26 to 28 time diagrams of embodiments with intermittent sounds adapted to the interval of tinnitus suppression, the minimum required loudness and the duration, respectively,
  • FIGS. 29 to 31 frequency spectra of embodiments related to hardware limitations and hearing loss, respectively.
  • FIG. 32 a - c examples of frequency spectra of sounds applied according to embodiments of the present invention
  • FIG. 33 a schematic view of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 34 to 37 block diagrams of various components of a device according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG. 38 a block diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 39 a system containing a medium for downloading software according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 40 a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 41 a - c subroutines of the method as illustrated in FIG. 40 .
  • a “sound” may be understood as an audio signal or a sensation of such in general. “Playing a sound” to the user may be achieved in different ways, e.g. as usually by generating acoustic waves that are transmitted to the user's ear via air, or by creating the acoustic waves directly in the user's hearing via an implant, or by creating a sensation of the sound directly in the user's brain.
  • FIG. 1 shows a time diagram of an empiric finding of tinnitus deletion by a sound underlying a device and a method according to the subsequent figures.
  • the axis of abscissae indicates time t in arbitrary units or in seconds s
  • the axis of ordinates indicates loudness L or an equivalent physical quantity such as volume or acoustic energy.
  • a first line represents the course of a perception of the tinnitus 1 of a user over time.
  • a second line shows a subjective hearing threshold 2 of the user.
  • a third line indicates a sound 3 played to the user, i.e. the audio signal.
  • the user perceives the tinnitus 1 at a certain loudness LT 1 , which is above his/her hearing threshold 2 .
  • Both, the loudness LT 1 of the tinnitus 1 and the hearing threshold 2 are specific for a user and may be measured, e.g. by comparison to different sounds of different loudness.
  • the tinnitus 1 is further characterized by a frequency fT or a frequency range which gives it its characteristic sound, such as a ringing, a clicking, a hiss or a roaring.
  • the hearing threshold of a user varies with frequency in general. In time diagrams such as FIG. 1 , the subjective hearing threshold of a user at the frequency fT of tinnitus is indicated.
  • a sound 3 is played to the user with loudness LS 1 , which is above the hearing threshold 2 as well.
  • the sound 3 has a certain duration, e.g. 2 s, and a tinnitus suppression frequency equal or similar to the tinnitus frequency fT.
  • Similar shall mean that a frequency spectrum of the sound 3 comprises a peak at the tinnitus suppression frequency or within a frequency range of half an octave or a fourth of an octave around the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • the frequency spectrum of the sound 3 may alternatively or additionally comprise a peak at an octave-shifted tinnitus suppression frequency obtained by shifting the tinnitus suppression frequency by one or more octaves; the peak in the frequency spectrum of the sound 3 may also fall into a frequency range of half an octave or a fourth of an octave around an octave-shifted tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • tinnitus deletion time 5 also called an interval of tinnitus suppression, which in the example of FIG. 1 has a duration of 46 s.
  • the actual values of reduction 4 of tinnitus loudness and tinnitus deletion time 5 are different and characteristic for individual users.
  • the tinnitus deletion time 5 has been observed to be in the range of 10 s, 30 s, 60 s or several minutes in test users.
  • Such tinnitus deletion time 5 can be exploited in a device for suppressing tinnitus and a corresponding method, provided the reduction of tinnitus loudness is observed repeatedly when the playing of sound 3 is repeated.
  • Such empirical finding is the basis of the devices for decreasing or suppressing the tinnitus and corresponding methods in the following figures.
  • Such frequency spectrum is similar to the tinnitus frequency fT.
  • the effect of reduction 4 of tinnitus loudness is related to the sound 3 having the described frequency spectrum, which is defined in relation to the tinnitus frequency fT, not in relation to a hearing loss characteristic or similar.
  • Sounds that evoked n the same effect include sinus sounds having intensity in only one or a few distinct frequencies, tinnitus-similar sounds, i.e. sounds having a frequency spectrum corresponding to the one of the perceived tinnitus, and even external sounds, such as music or speech, filtered such that they have a peak in their frequency spectrum around the tinnitus frequency fT.
  • the above findings are true when the tinnitus frequency fT is replaced by the tinnitus suppression frequency. While the two frequencies coincide within a tolerance of +/ ⁇ 10% for most users, in general they may be different.
  • the frequency spectrum of such sound 3 may comprise further frequencies outside the range of similarity to the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • the latter situation is depicted in FIG. 32 c with a typical frequency spectrum Ft(f) of an external sound, such as music, that has low intensity for high frequencies, for which tinnitus occurs in most users. Therefore frequencies in the frequency range fr around the tinnitus suppression frequency are amplified, e.g. by a bandpass filter.
  • the factor of amplification may typically be at least 25%, 50%, or more than 100%.
  • the effect of tinnitus reduction 4 also occurred, when other external sounds were heard at the same time as the sound 3 .
  • the effect observed with test users can be exploited to delete tinnitus in real time, i.e. immediately.
  • the effect may also reduce tinnitus in the long term as synapses causing tinnitus may be deactivated repeatedly and over a sufficiently long period of time.
  • neurons or acquired synapses corresponding to the tinnitus are re-trained not to produce any additional activity which leads to the sensation of tinnitus.
  • the tinnitus-causing synapses may be dismantled on a biological level due to lack of need or lack of use in a process inverse to an acquisition of tinnitus, and the cause of tinnitus is removed.
  • FIG. 1 shows a sound 3 that has a lower loudness LS 1 than the tinnitus, LS 1 ⁇ LT 1
  • the loudness of the tinnitus may be determined, e.g. by the user comparing the tinnitus to sounds of a known loudness and hence known acoustic energy.
  • the sound 3 is played with a loudness LS 1 that is in the range between the tinnitus loudness LT 1 ⁇ 10 dB and LT 1 +20 dB, in particular between LT 1 and LT 1 +10 dB.
  • a greater sound loudness LS 1 would be disturbing and potentially harmful to the user.
  • FIG. 2 shows a time diagram of a method with a continuous sound 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the tinnitus 1 drops by a reduction in loudness to below the subjective hearing threshold 2 , when the sound 3 on or around the tinnitus suppression frequency sets in. Since the sound 3 is played continuously, the tinnitus deletion time 5 is infinite.
  • the method with continuous sound 3 may advantageously be applied with pleasant sounds, such as music, speech or environmental sounds, filtered to boost frequencies similar to the tinnitus suppression frequency, e.g. by a bandpass filter.
  • the sound 3 has a loudness LS 1 above the hearing threshold 2 .
  • FIG. 3 shows a time diagram of a method with an intermittent sound 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the sound 3 again has a frequency spectrum similar to the tinnitus suppression frequency, but a duration of only 5 s, which suffices to cause the to tinnitus 1 to drop in loudness.
  • the recovering tinnitus 1 reaches the hearing threshold 2 around 30 s after its deletion. Since the tinnitus deletion time 5 due to such an intermittent sound 3 may be known from measurements, the interval of sound intermittency is set n to the tinnitus deletion time 5 , i.e. 30 s, such that the tinnitus is again suppressed when it becomes perceivable by the user.
  • the effective tinnitus deletion time 8 may be extended, theoretically to infinity.
  • the method with an intermittent sound 3 works with sounds of various frequency characteristics, e.g. sinus tones or noise, provided that their frequency spectrum is similar to the tinnitus suppression frequency. Partial success may again still be achieved when reducing the sound loudness LS 1 below the hearing threshold 2 .
  • a first step to be performed by an electronic device for suppressing tinnitus or in a corresponding method is preferably a measurement of the user's subjective tinnitus.
  • the measurement may relate to one or more of a tinnitus suppression frequency, in particular the tinnitus frequency fT, i.e. the dominating frequency of tinnitus, a tinnitus suppression frequency spectrum, an interval of tinnitus suppression, a tinnitus loudness LT 1 , and a hearing threshold.
  • the measurement may be performed by comparison with reference sounds, e.g. under the guidance of an audiologist or performed by the user himself/herself.
  • the measurement may be a measurement of neuronal activity related to the user's hearing.
  • a sound 3 with a frequency spectrum similar to the tinnitus suppression frequency is played to the user.
  • the sound 3 may be of any narrow-bandwidth sound characteristic, meaning narrower than one third of an octave, including tinnitus-similar sounds and sinus-similar sounds. This n may be performed in quiet surroundings, or while other sounds are perceived at the same time.
  • the sound 3 or a sensation of sound 3 may be achieved through a speaker, an earphone, customized hardware, a hearing aid, an implant or a device creating neuronal sensation of a sound.
  • FIGS. 4 to 8 show time diagrams of particular embodiments of the second step with continuous sound building on the concept of FIG. 2 .
  • the loudness LS 1 of the sound 3 is the same as the original tinnitus loudness LT 1 .
  • the transition from zero loudness to loudness LS 1 may be smooth, e.g. as shown, or abrupt, see also FIG. 19 .
  • the tinnitus 1 is decreased by the reduction 4 , and not perceived by the user any longer since its loudness is below the hearing threshold 2 .
  • the sound 3 may be more pleasant and less agonizing than the tinnitus 1 .
  • the time diagram of FIG. 5 differs from FIG. 4 in that the sound 3 has a lower loudness LS 1 than the original tinnitus loudness LT 1 .
  • the effect achieved through the sound 3 is again a reduction 4 of the tinnitus loudness below the hearing threshold 2 .
  • LS 1 ⁇ LT 1 in this case, there is an effective reduction 6 of loudness on or around the tinnitus frequency fT.
  • a remaining loudness 7 on or around the tinnitus frequency fT is lower, such that the perceived sound is effectively decreased, and the user is at least partially relieved.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 It has been found with several users that the method of FIGS. 4 and 5 also work when playing a sound 3 that is not consciously perceived by the user. It may be that conscious perception is not as relevant as subconscious perception by hypothalamus. This situation is shown in FIG. 6 , wherein the loudness LS 1 of the sound 3 is equal to or even below the hearing threshold 2 of the user around the tinnitus frequency fT. Again there is a reduction 4 of tinnitus 1 . Since the user does not perceive the sound 3 , he/she does not hear any remaining sound at the tinnitus frequency fT, such that the reduces 6 of loudness at the tinnitus frequency fT is total. Such situation is beneficial for a restructuring of the synapses causing the tinnitus because it completely breaks the feedback loop creating subjective tinnitus.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 show advantageous modifications of the methods of FIGS. 5 and 6 .
  • the sound 3 sets in, in the beginning it as a first loudness LS 1 , such as being equal to the tinnitus loudness LT 1 .
  • the loudness of the sound 3 is reduced to a second loudness LS 2 , which is lower and played continuously.
  • Such first sound impulse with a high loudness LS 1 may improve the effect of tinnitus suppression in some users.
  • Due to the different levels of the second loudness LS 2 in FIGS. 7 and 8 the reduction 6 in loudness at the tinnitus frequency fT is partial in FIG. 7 , and total in FIG. 8 .
  • FIGS. 9 to 14 are time diagrams of particular embodiments of methods with intermittent sound.
  • An intermittent sound 3 is played to the user, wherein the sound peaks have a loudness LS 1 , and in between the sound peaks there is zero loudness.
  • the frequency spectrum of the sound 3 should be similar to the tinnitus suppression frequency, in particular the tinnitus frequency fT, as discussed above.
  • the sound peaks have a duration of 1 s to 2 s, which is sufficient to yield a tinnitus suppression. Depending on and as required by the user, the sound peaks may also be longer.
  • the time between peaks ideally corresponds to the user's tinnitus deletion time 5 , e.g.
  • the next peak of sound 3 sets in, when or before the tinnitus 1 has recovered to a loudness equal to the hearing threshold 2 . In this way, a total cancellation of cumulative sound on the tinnitus suppression frequency is achieved during the time between the sound peaks, i.e. the time 8 of no perceivable tinnitus.
  • the intermittent sound 3 of FIG. 9 has a is loudness LS 1 during peaks which is equal to the original tinnitus loudness LT 1 . All sound peaks have the same loudness LS 1 . This may e.g. be a beeping or intermittent noise with the required frequency spectrum.
  • the first peak of the intermittent sound 3 has a loudness LS 1 equal to the original tinnitus loudness LT 1 .
  • the first peak suppresses the original tinnitus.
  • Subsequent peaks have a loudness LS 2 which is lower than LS 1 , but above the hearing threshold 2 .
  • FIG. 11 which shows a similar method, the subsequent peaks have a loudness LS 2 which is equal to the hearing threshold 2 . In both cases, the subsequent peaks are sufficient in order to suppress the recovering tinnitus anew.
  • the method according to FIG. 11 has the advantage that after a first sound peak with loudness LS 1 , so which is consciously perceived by the user, the subsequent peaks with loudness LS 2 are not consciously perceived by the user. Hence an every-day life of the user is not disturbed.
  • FIGS. 12 and 13 show methods similar to FIG. 9 , i.e. with an intermittent sound 3 whose peaks have equal loudness LS 1 , but the loudness LS 1 is lower than the original tinnitus loudness LT 1 .
  • a reduction of loudness at frequencies around the tinnitus frequency fT is achieved even during the sound peaks.
  • the method of FIG. 12 leads to periods of no cumulative sound between the peaks, whereas in FIG. 13 the tinnitus suppression is continuous since the peaks are not consciously perceived.
  • FIG. 14 shows a similar method as FIG. 10 .
  • the other sounds 9 may e.g. be music, a conversation or environmental sounds.
  • the effect of the method is still achieved, the tinnitus 1 is suppressed.
  • the method may, however, be more pleasant for the user, if other sounds 9 are present as well, e.g. a favorite piece of music.
  • FIG. 14 illustrates that the method of the invention also works in noisy environments. Hence such method may easily be integrated into the every-day life of the user, which is an important prerequisite for success in practice.
  • the methods of FIGS. 9 to 14 produce an immediate and prolonged reduction 6 of loudness at the tinnitus suppression frequency, in particular the tinnitus frequency fT, i.e. the user's subjective tinnitus loudness plus sound 3 simulating the tinnitus, of up to 96% to 100%.
  • a reduction of 100% is reached, if the sound 3 has a loudness LS 1 on or below the hearing threshold 2 , and if an interval of intermittency is equal to or shorter than the user's individual tinnitus deletion time 5 .
  • a reduction of 97% to 99% is reached, if the loudness LS 1 is below the subjective tinnitus loudness LT 1 but above the hearing threshold 2 .
  • a reduction of >93% is reached, if the loudness LS 1 is equal to tinnitus loudness LT 1 , depending on the duration of the intermittent peaks and the interval of intermittency.
  • FIGS. 15 to 18 show time diagrams of methods with boosted music or boosted sounds according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • tinnitus suppression such as a sinus sound or a tinnitus-like sound
  • Frequencies of the other sounds are boosted, i.e. increased in intensity e.g. by at least 25%, 50% or 100%, in a frequency range similar to the tinnitus suppression frequency, in order to get boosted music 10 ( FIGS. 15 and 16 ) or a boosted other sound 11 ( FIGS. 17 and 18 ).
  • frequencies not fulfilling the criterion of being similar to the tinnitus suppression frequency may be attenuated or cut out, e.g. by at least 25%, 50% or by 100%, in order to achieve a similar effect on the user's tinnitus.
  • FIG. 15 represents the described method when using a continuous or permanent boost of music energy on or around the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • the boosted music has a first loudness LS 1 at the tinnitus suppression frequency, which is smaller than the tinnitus loudness LT 1
  • an unboosted music has a second loudness LS 2 , which is smaller than the first loudness LS 1 at the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • the tinnitus is suppressed below the hearing threshold 2 by the reduction 4 of tinnitus loudness.
  • the user does not perceive the tinnitus 1 any longer but only the boosted music 10 .
  • Such method represents a pleasant tinnitus method since any favorite music of the user may be used.
  • a prerequisite is that the unboosted music already contains acoustic energy in the frequency range to-be-boosted.
  • the method of FIG. 15 i.e. the boosting of music in the frequency range of tinnitus or at octave shifts thereof, may as well be applied in an intermittent manner.
  • the music is unboosted, i.e. it has normal acoustic energy in the relevant frequency range, in order not to disturb the usual sound characteristic of the music.
  • the acoustic energy in this frequency range is boosted. This leads to a suppression of tinnitus 1 below the hearing threshold 2 .
  • the pulses are advantageously repeated at an interval equal to or shorter than the tinnitus deletion time 5 , i.e. before the loudness of tinnitus 1 recovers to above the hearing threshold 2 .
  • the tinnitus is permanently suppressed without altering the pleasant impression of the music, i.e. its usual sound characteristic, for most of the time.
  • other sounds 11 in an environment of the user are boosted in the frequency range, in particular all other sounds which is the concept of FIGS. 17 and 18 .
  • the boost i.e. the increase of acoustic energy, is performed on top of a correction which the hearing aid performs in that frequency range for compensating hearing loss.
  • the boost may again be performed continuously ( FIG. 17 ) or intermittently ( FIG. 18 ).
  • a hearing aid If a hearing aid is assumed to increase a loudness of sounds 11 in a frequency range of hearing loss up to 100% of an original hearing level, it increases the sound loudness in this frequency range above 100% of the original hearing level according to FIGS. 17 and 18 , in particular to at least 125%, 150% or 200%. In this way, the tinnitus method may be integrated into the user's every-day life seamlessly and without any further effort or time requirements.
  • FIG. 19 shows a time diagram of different transition characteristics of the sound 3 played in a device or a method according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • Two examples are given as sound 3 a with an abrupt onset from zero loudness to LS 1 , and sound 3 b with a smooth transition in loudness between zero and LS 1 .
  • the effect of both transition variants is the same:
  • the tinnitus 1 is suppressed by the reduction 4 of tinnitus loudness below the hearing threshold 2 .
  • An abrupt transition such as an abrupt onset of a sound or an abrupt onset of a boost, facilitates shorter sound pulses in a method with intermittent sound.
  • Such abrupt transition may have the form of a step function, or it may comprise a slope of a short duration, such as e.g. shorter than 0.5 s or 1 s.
  • a smooth transition such as a fade-in and fade-out in form of a ramp, is e.g. a slope of a duration longer than 0.5 s or 1 s, may be more enjoyable for the user, in particular if the frequency spectrum of music or other sound is altered or boosted. Both forms of transition shown in FIG. 19 can be combined with various of the methods according to FIGS. 2 to 18 .
  • FIGS. 20 to 24 show time diagrams of an influence of an interval of sound intermittency or alternation on a degree of tinnitus suppression according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • the interval of intermittency of the sound 3 , and the interval of alternation of the boosted music 10 or of the boosted other sound 11 are varied by a small amount of variation 12 around the time of tinnitus deletion 5 . It is clear that such variation 12 does not inhibit the effect of tinnitus suppression as long as the interval of intermittency or alternation is shorter than or equal to the time of tinnitus deletion 5 . In that case, a subsequent sound 3 or boost pulse of music 10 or of other sound 11 will always suppress the tinnitus 1 again before its loudness increases above the hearing threshold 2 .
  • the situation of the interval of sound intermittency or alternation being shorter than the time of tinnitus deletion 5 is depicted in FIG. 21 .
  • the pulses of sound 3 with a frequency spectrum similar to the tinnitus suppression frequency suppress the tinnitus 1 before its loudness reaches the hearing threshold 2 .
  • the perceived tinnitus deletion time 8 is theoretically infinite.
  • the user may have heard pulses more frequently than necessary but this in uncritical to the success of the method.
  • partial success is also achieved, if the loudness LS 1 of the sound pulses is below the hearing threshold 2 , such that the user does not perceive them.
  • FIG. 22 depicts the situation of the interval of sound intermittency or alternation being equal to the time of tinnitus deletion 5 .
  • the two intervals are synchronized which also leads to a perceived infinite tinnitus deletion time. This is the optimal case since the user does not have to listen to more pulses of sound 3 or boosts of music 10 or of other sound 11 than necessary.
  • the first pulse of sound 3 displayed at around 5 to 10 s may be louder than the subsequent pulses, in particular louder than the loudness of the tinnitus 1 by 0 to 20 dB.
  • the tinnitus 1 recovers with its loudness above the hearing threshold 2 for some time as shown in FIG. 23 .
  • Such behavior is not critical to the longterm effect of the method, which is a restructuring of the faulty neurons related to the tinnitus frequency fT. But it may be disturbing for the user since he/she repeatedly perceives the tinnitus 1 for some time before it is suppressed again.
  • FIG. 24 shows pulses of sound 3 with random intervals of intermittency between them.
  • the user will not perceive the tinnitus 1 similar to FIGS. 21 and 22 , while in others, the tinnitus 1 may even reach its original loudness LT 1 before it is suppressed by a subsequent sound pulse. In this case, the user experiences a partial tinnitus deletion over time.
  • the degree of tinnitus deletion over time depends on a probability distribution of the random intervals of intermittency.
  • a method with such random interval of sound intermittency or alternation by boosts may be desirable because of its unpredictability, such that the user does not get used and bored by a regular interval, especially in the case of boosting music.
  • FIGS. 25 - 28 show these advantageous effects to an even greater extent. This is achieved by tailoring the audio signal that is played to the user by means of determining at least one parameter regarding the user's tinnitus, and then modifying or generating the audio signal according to the at least one parameter.
  • the at least one parameter may be determined with the device by the user alone, i.e. without the help of a trained person, e.g. a doctor or an audiologist, though assistance of a trained person is not excluded.
  • the determination of the at least one parameter is repeated, e.g. in a regular interval of e.g. one week or month, or as soon as a change of parameters may occur.
  • the at least one re-determined parameter is then automatically taken into account by the device for modifying/generating future audio signals.
  • FIG. 25 shows that the sound 3 decreases in loudness over time and in particular as the loudness of the tinnitus 1 decreases.
  • the evolution of the loudness of the sound 3 is adapted due to user feedbacks and re-determination of parameters over time. It is e.g. possible that the loudness of the sound 3 in general decreases over time according to a certain function, e.g. linearly or exponentially, e.g. by 5 dB per week, starting from an initial loudness of e.g. 90 dB.
  • the loudness of the sound 3 is increased again, e.g. by a predefined amount, e.g. 5 dB.
  • the evolution of the loudness of the sound 3 does not have to be monotonically decreasing as in FIG. 25 , but the loudness may also adapted to greater values, e.g. if the initial loudness of the sound 3 is not sufficient to suppress or delete the tinnitus.
  • the advantage of the embodiment of FIG. 25 is the adaptation of the sound loudness to the minimum required loudness by measuring the latter over time.
  • such embodiment with adapting loudness of the sound 3 has the effect that the sound is not (much) louder than necessary in order to suppress the tinnitus, i.e. the sound is played with a loudness just above the minimum suppression sound loudness.
  • the minimum suppression sound loudness may be above, at or below the hearing threshold. In this way, the sound is less disturbing or obtrusive to the user.
  • FIG. 26 shows the temporal evolution of the sound 3 when a different parameter, in this case the tinnitus suppression sound interval, i.e. the interval between subsequent pulses of sound 3 , is adapted.
  • the tinnitus suppression sound interval should be shorter or at most equal to the interval of tinnitus deletion.
  • the interval of tinnitus deletion is re-determined and the sound 3 is adapted to its new value.
  • FIG. 27 depicts the situation in which the loudness of the sound 3 , in this case an intermittent sound, is adapted over time.
  • the adaptation of the loudness is advantageously in response to a change of the minimum required loudness or a change of tinnitus loudness.
  • the parameter minimum required loudness or tinnitus loudness is re-determined after a certain time, and the sound loudness is adapted for an optimum tinnitus suppression, which at the same time is least obtrusive for the user.
  • This embodiment may be combined with the re-determination and adaptation of the interval of tinnitus deletion described above for FIG. 26 .
  • the duration of the sound 3 is adapted over time according to user feedback. This may be desired in order to reduce the obtrusiveness or disturbance from the signal to the user.
  • the sound duration preferably approaches the minimum suppression signal duration, e.g. asymptotically, for which tinnitus suppression or deletion is still achieved.
  • the adaptation of the sound duration in particular the determination of a minimum required sound duration for tinnitus suppression, is performed after other parameters such as the tinnitus suppression frequency and the minimum required loudness have been adapted.
  • an embodiment of the device offers the possibility to adapt the sound quality to the user's present preferences.
  • Sound quality may be influenced by the type of sound 3 played, e.g. sinus sound, noise, instrumental music, pulsating sound, or by a frequency characteristic.
  • the user can choose the least obtrusive sound quality for his/her present situation, while still achieving tinnitus suppression or deletion.
  • an embodiment of the device supports an adaptation of the transition of the intermittent or alternating sound as described with respect to FIG. 19 .
  • a characteristic of the transition such as a fade-in and/or fade-out duration, is adapted according to user feedback.
  • an embodiment of the device offers the possibility to change a distribution of the acoustic energy in the sound 3 within the defined frequency spectrum.
  • the sound at the tinnitus suppression frequency in particular the tinnitus frequency fT
  • the sound at the tinnitus suppression frequency may be played with lower loudness while sounds at one or more octaves distance to the tinnitus suppression frequency are played with higher loudness.
  • An example is lowering the loudness of the sound at 8000 Hz, while increasing the loudness at 4000 Hz and/or 2000 Hz and/or 1000 Hz.
  • the sound may be made more pleasant according to user input.
  • this may be beneficial for the overall effect of tinnitus suppression since, in general, the tinnitus frequency fT often correlates with hearing loss in a similar frequency range, i.e. around fT.
  • FIGS. 29 to 31 Some features that are advantageous, in particular in the case of the device being a hearing aid or comprising functions of a hearing aid, are shown in FIGS. 29 to 31 .
  • FIG. 29 shows the frequency response of a certain device producing a sound, in particular a hearing aid, which is limited to frequencies below e.g. 6000 to 7000 Hz due to limitations of its hardware or software.
  • the tinnitus suppression frequency in this case 10000 Hz is above this range and a tinnitus suppression sound shall be played at the tinnitus suppression frequency, the device does not actually play the sound, thus the effect of tinnitus suppression is not achieved.
  • the tinnitus suppression sound is played at frequencies of the defined frequency spectrum which are one or more octaves lower than the tinnitus suppression frequency, see above, in particular at frequencies inside the range of frequencies supported by the hardware. If the tinnitus suppression frequency is below the capability of the hardware, the suppression sound is advantageously played at one or several octaves above the tinnitus suppression frequency.
  • FIG. 30 A similar situation, in which octave-shifting of the acoustic energy in the suppression sound is useful, is shown in FIG. 30 .
  • playing a sound at the tinnitus suppression frequency similar to fT is ineffective in terms of tinnitus suppression.
  • the suppression sound is played one or more octaves lower than the tinnitus suppression frequency, e.g. at 5000 Hz.
  • tinnitus suppression or deletion can still be achieved, even under severe hearing loss.
  • This feature is particularly useful since studies show that the frequencies of tinnitus, of an optimum tinnitus suppression sound and of hearing loss often overlap. In reverse, this also applies to hearing loss at lower frequencies, e.g. below 100 to 200 Hz.
  • the user's hearing loss at fT is 50 dB and the tinnitus has a loudness of 70 dB.
  • a solution as depicted in FIG. 31 is playing the suppression sound at one or more octaves lower than fT, e.g. 4250 Hz, where the hearing of the user is better or normal.
  • FIG. 32 a - c show examples of frequency spectra of sounds applied in methods according to embodiments of the present invention. They have been discussed in the context of FIG. 1 , see above.
  • FIG. 33 illustrates a schematic view of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the mobile phone 21 is a smartphone comprising a display 22 which constitutes an interface 26 to the user.
  • the mobile phone 21 i.a. contains a housing 23 and a plug 25 for earphones 24 .
  • FIGS. 34 to 37 illustrate block diagrams of components of an electronic device according to embodiments of the present invention.
  • a software engine 50 includes an identification unit 51 and an adaptation unit 52 both of which may act on an audio output unit 60 .
  • the identification unit 51 supports identifying, for example, a frequency fT and/or a loudness of a user's tinnitus.
  • the tinnitus frequency fT and/or loudness is input to the adaptation unit 52 which converts the tinnitus frequency fT in a defined frequency characteristic, which in this specific embodiment is a filter characteristic, or builds a frequency characteristic based on the identified tinnitus frequency fT or loudness.
  • Such frequency characteristic is applied by the adaptation unit 52 to an audio signal ⁇ as>, which preferably is stored in a memory of the apparatus.
  • the filtered audio signal ⁇ as> also called adapted audio signal ⁇ aas> is input to the audio output unit 60 for being played to the user. Playing the adapted audio signal ⁇ aas> may be initiated by triggering the process of modifying audio signal ⁇ as> accordingly, or may be initiated by a user independent from the building of the adapted audio signals ⁇ aas> at any later point in time.
  • a different way is illustrated for adapting audio signals ⁇ as>.
  • Such way may be denoted as “on the fly” adaptation in that a sound modifier 61 of the audio output unit 60 is controlled by the adaptation unit 52 by means of a control signal ctrl(fT) for implementing the frequency characteristic that is derived from the identified tinnitus frequency fT.
  • the sound modifier 61 tunes the audio signal ⁇ as> while playing it accordingly such that the adapted audio signal ⁇ aas> may be played to the user by the audio output unit 60 .
  • FIGS. 34 and 35 may also be interpreted as a working mode of a hearing aid.
  • external sound ⁇ as> is recorded by a microphone and transmitted to the adaptation unit 52 ( FIG. 34 ), or the sound modifier ( FIG. 35 ).
  • the frequency spectrum of the external sound is modified, i.e. adapted according to the tinnitus frequency fT, e.g. as shown in FIG. 32 c .
  • the adaptation of the external sounds according to the proposed tinnitus method is performed on top of a regular function of the hearing aid which rectifies a hearing in certain frequency ranges.
  • the audio signal ⁇ as> in FIG. 35 may be a generic sound, such as e.g. a sinus sound, which is generated by a sound generator or by the audio output unit 60 itself.
  • the generic sound ⁇ as> is then adapted according to a frequency spectrum comprised in the control signal ⁇ ctrl(fT)> which is determined by the adaptation unit 52 based on the tinnitus frequency fT or loudness as determined by the identification unit 51 .
  • the identification unit 51 supports also a determination of the tinnitus deletion time and/or a determination of the hearing threshold, e.g. depending on the frequency.
  • the audio signal ⁇ as> may additionally be modified or adapted according to the determined tinnitus deletion time and/or the determined hearing threshold by the adaptation unit ( FIG. 34 ) or the sound modifier 61 ( FIG. 35 )
  • FIG. 36 shows another block diagram which focuses on the generation of sound samples ⁇ sosx> rather than adapted audio signals ⁇ aas>.
  • a basic sound sample ⁇ bsos> may be stored in the device, and for supporting identification of the relevant tinnitus frequency fT, the identification unit 51 controls a sound modifier 61 of the audio output unit 60 by control signal ⁇ ctrl(ui)> for generating a sound sample ⁇ sosx> out of a basic sound sample ⁇ bsos>.
  • the control signal ⁇ ctrl(ui)> is subject to the user input ⁇ ui> which may denote a modification such as frequency up or frequency down with respect to the most recent sound sample ⁇ sosx> played.
  • the identification unit 51 translates such user input ⁇ ui> into the control signal ⁇ ctrl(ui)> for adjusting the sound modifier settings for, for example, generating a sound sample ⁇ sosx+1> from basic sound sample ⁇ bsos> that has a higher tone than the previous sound sample ⁇ sosx> played.
  • a control signal ⁇ ctrl> makes the sound modifier 61 play sound samples ⁇ sosx> in a defined order.
  • the next sound sample ⁇ sosx+1> differs from the sound sample ⁇ sosx> in loudness such that a perceived loudness of the tinnitus may be determined.
  • the hearing threshold, or the tinnitus deletion time of the user it is possible to determine the hearing threshold, or the tinnitus deletion time of the user.
  • the tinnitus suppression frequency is determined and used instead of the tinnitus frequency fT.
  • FIG. 37 illustrates another block diagram which focuses on the generation of sound samples ⁇ sosx>.
  • the apparatus holds multiple different sound samples ⁇ sosx> that can be selected for being played by the audio output unit 60 by the identification unit 51 .
  • the selection may follow a defined order of n sound samples ⁇ sosx>, e.g. by rising frequency, or may depend on the user input ⁇ ui> which may be translated by the identification unit 51 into the right choice of sound sample ⁇ sosx(ui)> to be played next.
  • Sample frequency characteristics Ft(f), to be applied to an audio signal as, are shown in FIG. 32 and were described above in the context of FIG. 1 .
  • such modification to the frequency characteristic is not limited to an adaptation in the high frequency range but may also be applicable to low or medium portions of the audible frequency range. Any such adaptation/modification applied may either increase or lower associated frequencies.
  • the present apparatus may be used, for example, as a device for identifying such other auditory disorders.
  • the apparatus may be adapted for executing an audiometry. In such audiometry, sound samples representing different frequencies may be played to the user via the audio output unit. The user is requested to indicate via a suitable interface—e.g. by pressing a button—the point in time he/she hears the sound sample.
  • the present apparatus may automatically identify frequencies or frequency ranges to be adapted, and in particular to be one of amplified or attenuated. Such frequency ranges may accordingly be adapted in the frequency characteristic that will be applied to the audio signals.
  • FIG. 38 shows a block diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and specifically of a mobile electronic device 80 , in a more hardware oriented manner than in block diagrams in FIGS. 34 to 37 .
  • the electronic device includes a processing unit 81 which is connected via an internal bus 89 i.a. to a non-volatile memory 84 , such as a ROM, which may be implemented, for example, in Flash technology, and to a volatile memory 86 , such as a RAM, which may, for example, be implemented in DRAM technology.
  • Reference sign 85 denotes a wireless interface such as a 4G interface for transmitting and receiving data in a wireless manner.
  • the electronic device 80 further includes a digital/analogue converter 82 for supplying an audio output 83 with analogue audio signals.
  • the electronic device 80 supports a user interface 87 which may be a graphical user interface including a display and some input means.
  • the wireless interface 85 may be used for receiving audio signals from a provider.
  • the 3 o user interface 87 may support selection and downloading of audio signals via the wireless interface 85 .
  • the audio signals may be stored in the non-volatile memory 84 .
  • a computer program element may be resident which supports identification of a frequency range of a user's auditory disorder, which allows deriving a frequency characteristic from the identified frequency range, which applies the frequency characteristic to a selected audio signal for generating an adapted audio signal, and which finally supports playing the adapted audio signal.
  • Such computer program element may be loaded into the volatile memory 86 by the processing unit 81 for being executed.
  • the user interface 87 may be involved requesting for user input related to the frequency range that matches the tinnitus perception best.
  • sound samples may be output to the user.
  • Such sound samples may be stored in the non-volatile memory 84 and be output via a D/A converter 82 to the audio output 83 which may be a plug for earphones, for example.
  • the processing unit 81 may store this information in one of the memories 84 , 86 and may generate, in a specific embodiment, a filter characteristic based on the frequency range.
  • the filter characteristic may be stored in any of the memories 84 , 86 , and be applied to an audio stream representing an audio signal being loaded for being played via the components 82 and 83 .
  • FIG. 39 shows a system 70 for downloading a computer readable element as may be used with the mobile phone 21 .
  • the system may include a server 71 including storage means.
  • Reference sign 72 indicates a transmission network, such as the internet.
  • a mobile phone 21 receives the computer readable element, also called “app” in this context, which during transmission is represented by an electrical transmission signal ⁇ ets>.
  • FIG. 40 shows a flow chart of part of a method of the present invention.
  • the method is started, e.g. by pressing an icon representing the “tinnitus app” on the mobile electronic device.
  • the “app” supports identification of a tinnitus suppression frequency associated with an auditory disorder of a user of the mobile electronic device, such as referred to in previous embodiments.
  • the “app” supports a determination of one or more further quantities such as tinnitus loudness, tinnitus deletion time and hearing threshold.
  • a frequency characteristic of an audio signal e.g.
  • step S 4 the electronic device waits for a user input to start playing the adapted audio so signal. If such input is received (Y), the adapted audio signal is played. If it is not received (N), the process may wait for any such input in the future.
  • FIG. 41 a represents a flow chart of an embodiment representing step S 2 of FIG. 40 in more detail.
  • step S 21 a first sound sample is selected to be played to the user.
  • step S 22 the selected sound sample is played to the user, and in step S 23 it is verified, if a user interface confirms (Y) the sound sample, or denies (N) the sound sample.
  • a different sound sample is selected in step S 21 and the process continues.
  • the selection of sound samples may follow a defined sequence of sound samples, or may take user input into account, or even may include modification of existing sound samples according to the user input.
  • the frequency and/or loudness of the confirmed sound sample is handed over in step S 24 to a process generating desired frequency characteristic, which may be represented by step S 3 in FIG. 40 .
  • a basic sound sample is determined to be played to the user in step S 25 .
  • the basic sound sample is played to the user, and in step S 27 it is verified, if a user interface confirms (Y) the sound sample, or denies (N) the sound sample.
  • a setting to be applied to the basic sound sample is selected in step S 29 and is applied to the basic sound sample in step S 25 for generating a sound sample different from the basic sound sample.
  • the frequency and/or loudness of the confirmed sound sample is handed over to a process generating a desired frequency characteristic, which may be represented by step S 3 in FIG. 40 .
  • the step S 3 of FIG. 40 is explained in more detail.
  • the tinnitus suppression frequency and optionally one or more further quantities such as tinnitus loudness, tinnitus deletion time and hearing threshold, is received in step S 31 .
  • a frequency characteristic is determined based on the received tinnitus suppression frequency and further quantities.
  • an audio signal is selected automatically, or in response to a user input.
  • the audio signal may e.g. be a track of music stored in a memory of the electronic device, or a sound in the environment recorded by a microphone of the device.
  • the frequency characteristic is applied to the selected audio signal, and the audio signal adapted in this way is stored in the electronic device, if desired.

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